Sunday link

February 17, 2008

Drew Champlin

I wrote about the renovations to Riddle-Pace Field today in the Dothan Eagle.

It looks better in print with art, and a photo gallery should come across the web in the next 24 hours, I hope.

Baseball look: Pitchers

Drew Champlin

Troy’s 2007 pitching staff struggled through the fall with practices at a small Hogan’s Hole at Charles Henderson High School. Pop-ups were home runs and confidence was down.

Since the return to the college diamond at Riddle-Pace, production has improved.

“This is the most improved part of our team,” head coach Bobby Pierce said.

Troy has four games this weekend against Rhode Island. Senior Ryan Ellison (RHP) will start on Opening Day and has the first chance to be the Friday guy this year. Ellison has been brilliant at times, bad at others.

“He certainly has earned the Opening Day start,” Pierce said. “He’s a very capable pitcher that has experience. It is his turn to step up and carry the load.”

In Saturday’s doubleheader, junior Travis Burge, (LHP) who transferred in from Florida State, will pitch the first game. Returning sophomore Tim Wheeler (RHP) will pitch in game 2 and likely be the Sunday guy during the season. Andrew Dickinson (RHP), a 6-foot-5 JUCO transfer, will start the fourth game.

“He’s really stepped up and thrown the ball very well,” Pierce said of Dickinson.

With the season starting two weeks later than normal, the pitching load will increase. Pierce is hoping his starters can go 6-7 innings with a 90-pitch count since Sun Belt play will start two weeks later and a trip to No. 1 Arizona State is the week after that.

The first reliever Troy fans could see is freshman A.J. Howard (LHP). The former Houston County standout was a two-time Dothan Eagle Player of the Year in high school.

“He’s improved significantly since he arrived here,” Pierce said. “We’re going to throw him into the fire very early.”

Also in that first game, senior Neal Jordan (RHP), a 6-foot-6 pitcher with a sidearm delivery, could see action leading into Josh Storm (RHP), a JUCO transfer from Chipola JC. Storm is slated to be the closer this year.

In the second game, the relieving rotation looks like this - freshman Drew Hull (RHP), returning senior JJ Whetsel (RHP) and returning senior Rob Brown. (RHP)

Whetsel missed last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

“All he needs to do is knock off some of the rust,” Pierce said.

Four other pitchers have put themselves in a position to see action - returning junior Eric Hanssen (RHP), who redshirted last year, returner Pete Van Horn (RHP - I think he got a redshirt last year but I’m not sure, so he’s either a JR or SR), returning junior Steven Morelock (LHP), who redshirted last year and is coming off labrum surgery and Mike Powers (RHP), who transferred from Maine.

In Troy’s first midweek game Feb. 26 against Kennesaw State, Hanssen and Powers are likely candidates to start.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Baseball look: Outfielders
Baseball look: Infielders
Baseball look: Catchers

Baseball look: Outfielders

February 16, 2008

Drew Champlin

The outfield may be the strongest unit for the Trojans this season. So far, it has been the most consistent.

Four players stepped up - JUCO transfers Charley Williams and Michael Precise as well as returning senior Bryan Miller and Steven Felix, a returning sophomore.

With only three positions, it looks like Precise will play first base. That leaves Williams, an 18th round draft pick by the Florida Marlins last spring, in right field with Felix in left and Miller in center.

Miller doesn’t possess the natural speed and defense that predecessors Ian Craze and Adam Godwin have, but he hits for more power and he’s a plus defender. He played both corner outfield positions last year.

The future in center field lies in freshman Daniel Peterson. He’ll play some this year, especially as a late-inning defensive replacement. When he comes in, Miller will shift to one of the corner positions, where’s an exceptional defensive player.

Junior Lance Miller, who redshirted last year, is listed as an outfielder but his bat will get him in the lineup as the DH from time to time.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Baseball look: Infielders
Baseball look: Catchers

Troy hoops tonight

Drew Champlin

Troy @ North Texas, tonight at 7 p.m.

Troy’s struggling, real bad, in case you didn’t know. But one of its three Sun Belt wins came against North Texas, 91-88 on Jan. 3.

Last year in Denton, UNT won by 41.

Baseball look: Infielders

Drew Champlin

Two positions appear to be set for the Trojans with returning players, while two other infield positions could eventually be held by newcomers.

Junior Brett Henry started for half the season at third base last season before he fell into a slump and was replaced by Trevor Tyre, who eventually became the team’s leading hitter at .381. Tyre, a junior, has moved over to second base and Henry is slated to start the season at third.

At shortstop, three players are battling, led by redshirt sophomore Bart Pettus, redshirt junior Brett Pierce and true freshman Adam Bryant. Bryant is definitely the future at this position and he should see plenty of playing time this year with a chance to take over if he performs in games.

JUCO transfer Michael Precise has come on at first base and looks to start there when the season opens. Precise, one of the team’s best hitters, was in an outfield logjam with three others. When Pierce didn’t want to waste the DH on one of the four, he put a first baseman’s mitt on Precise and he has responded. Look for the Geneva native to make a big impact with the Trojans this season.

Sophomore Daryl Otwell, a JUCO transfer, is also in the mix at first base but his bat will likely land him a place in the lineup as the DH.

JUCO transfers Josh Storm and Paul Gatchell are battling for time at third base. Gatchell, Pierce and Bryant are backing up second base as well. Sophomore Shohei Fujita has a chance but is further back in the pack after playing much of last season.